This whole post and thread is deprecated since ARMA 2: OA 1.60 release (automatic detection of A2 install
(A2 needs to be started once incase of STEAM/Desura)
it still can be used as workaround in case of some issues ...

DarkXess:This TUT was made by Dwarden from BIS Forums!
The Original Post is here!

Place content of this file into same directory where is ARMA2OA.EXE

note: this is only for these who have A2 and OA directories standalone

Spoiler:

(includes STEAM users, games needs to be combined for A2:CO package)

Warning: will work ONLY IF there are EXISTING OR CORRECT paths in windows registry to both titles
(e.g. both A2 and OA must be run at least once on STEAM prior using the script)

this will automatically enable your game to load ARMA 2 content w/o need to use -mod switch
now you can add / remove mods in the UI interface
there are 3 problematic

1. you cannot enable/disable ARMA 2 off the list and it looks disabled
* yet it works, so no issue

2. all servers with retail A2:CO will show as Red with question mark
* yet You can join and play, yet it works so no issue
+ there is 1 downside of this

3.if you host you will be shown as w/o the CA and thus A2:CO users can't play with You
* can't be resolved w/o data wise changes, no big issue if you not hosting

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_runA2CO_beta.zip contains _runA2CO_beta.cmd
it does the same as _runA2CO.cmd for beta build of OA
only limitation is, it needs to be placed into same directory where is ARMA2OA.EXE
so you need add shortcut to it or something along the line

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scripts are within attached ARMA2.CO.manually.zip
they detects automatically your A2 and A2:OA and do these changes for You
also i included the one where you can easily add junction for mods from ARMA 2 to OA folder to be seen in ingameUI modification manager

NOTE: \Keys\ folder is already present in \ARMA 2 Operation Arrowhead\
so in case You need to host games, please copy your keys over or rename the
OA keys folder and create junction afterward to A2 one

Hi, i bought both, ArmA2 and ArmA2 OA as combined ops via STEAM, installed both, how do i shoud to install the addons ?
How do i know if its running as combined ops ?
In STEAM folders there two folders ArmA2 and ArmA2 OA ... its not all in one.

Start the game, go to options, go to expansions and you should see Operation Arrowhead listed and active.
Also the main menu screen should show the Desert map which comes with OA and you should be able to play the Arma 2 campaigns.

heya'll
i've been tryin to link arma 2 with arma 2 oa
i recently rebooted my pc
and installed arma 2 reinforcements / oa and arma 2
i did get arma 2 reinforcements & oa linked but i just cant link oa to arma 2
i am not very good at these things so i hope someone can give me a bit of an easy explanation
any help would be apreciated ..
would reinstalling the game in these order help or would my problem be solved then?
Step 1: Uninstall ArmA2 and OA. Make Backups of your Modfolders.
Step 2: Install ArmA2 and run it once.
Step 3: Install OA. When asked where to install to, install it into the same folder as ArmA2.
Step 4: Install BAF (if applicable)
Step 5: Install PMC (if applicable)
Step 6: Install the latest OA Patch (patches also A2 + BAF + PMC).

I Did all the above .. but now i get an error with the pixelshader or something when i try to launch oa, arma 2 launches but still isnt linked with the others .. hmm i rly dont kno what to do theyre all in the same file i made sure of that

#NoQuarter :
Yep, that (above) should work...as long as you install the programs in chronological order, are using the default path routing of the installer(s), and are using similar media types.

There really is no need for any manual registry edits -even for Steam users- and these types of edits should only be done as a last resort.

^
Did you perform a "clean" un-install of the programs... removing -or deleting- the profile and config files from *:\Users\*\Documents\ArmA 2 (or \ArmA 2OA), followed with a registry sweep/cleaning prior to the re-install?
Are you using the same type of media (DVD or DD) or are you using multiple media types?

yes i reinstalled it clean .. and multiple media types meaning ?
and i'm still tryin to patch the game but that errors aswell
thank you for helping me btw

#NoQuarter :
^
Did you perform a "clean" un-install of the programs... removing -or deleting- the profile and config files from *:\Users\*\Documents\ArmA 2 (or \ArmA 2OA), followed with a registry sweep/cleaning prior to the re-install?
Are you using the same type of media (DVD or DD) or are you using multiple media types?

Added 1 hour 8 minutes later:

The install worked i got a destkop item -> arma 2 combined operations so it's working now ..
but i only need to find a way to patch it cause it gives me an error that says someting of my CA.pbo file causes the error
after i installed oa i immediatly installed BAF / PMC and i think that's the addon that's causing the errors cause i can't patch the game up anymore .. i think .. i don't bloody kno .. xd

#NoQuarter :
^
Did you perform a "clean" un-install of the programs... removing -or deleting- the profile and config files from *:\Users\*\Documents\ArmA 2 (or \ArmA 2OA), followed with a registry sweep/cleaning prior to the re-install?
Are you using the same type of media (DVD or DD) or are you using multiple media types?